Moringa oleifera, also known as the miracle tree, has a vast reputation regarding folk medicine. It is known to relieve symptoms of arthritis, cancer, cardiovascular problems, asthma and many others. In 2013, a study conducted in Ougadou, proved Moringa Oleifera leave powder can be used as a dietary supplement and can contribute against malnutrition in children and adults. Also, according to studies made between 1997 and 2014 isothiocyanites, obtained from the ethanolic Moringa Oleifera leaves extract, found to induce apoptosis in ovarian cancer cells in vitro. But, all of these findings have been through the use of polar extracts, thus leaving non-polar compounds unanalyzed. In the present study, the leaves and cortex were chemically scrutinized in the search of biologically active compounds of all sorts of polarity. The plant material was extracted in chloroform/methanol (1:1 v/v) and subjected to liquid-liquid extraction with solvents of different polarities such as hexane, chloroform and ethyl acetate. The hexane extract was analyzed by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) and the NMR data of the extract projected a variety of intense signals of vinylics, alpha-heteroatoms, aliphatic and allylic hydrogens. The hexane extract was chromatographed with a mixture of chloroform/methanol (1:1 v/v) to yield 15 fractions. Fraction 4 was purified by column chromatography with a mixture of hexane/ethyl acetate (8:2 v/v). This fraction produced seven subfractions from which one is being currently analyzed. We evaluated the leaves crude extract against prostate, breast and ovarian cancer cell lines, exhibiting IC50 values of 0.17 μg/mL, 0.25 μg/mL and 0.27 μg/mL respectively. Along with other findings, this data shows that Moringa oleifera leaves and cortex are a potent source of biologically active compounds capable of treating cancer; and is therefore necessary to isolate them.

Biological screening of <i>Moringa oleifera </i>for cytotocixity and antitumor activities

253rd National Meeting (2017)

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Biological screening of Moringa oleifera for cytotocixity and antitumor activities